First time home birthers and their support squad

[jollyjoanne]

Not a homebirther personally but wanting to offer support to Boobz and others who are going for a home birth . . .

Hope MW appt went well Justbeme.

Hi,

Would love to join group if poss. DH and I have just made decision to plan for a homebirth after scan to confirm placenta is no longer 'blocking exit' I am 35 weeks and homebirth MW is coming to house next week.

Would love to have a water birth and am planning on buying Birth Pool in a Box or La Bassine.

This is our first and due date is 9th July although I think I will be a little bit early.

Am feeling quite excited (is that strange) although do have my moments too!

Welcome aboard hippopo! Fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly from here on in!

Evening!!
Well, I now have 3 telephone numbers for the MW, she just won;t be available on her daughters wedding (5th), so legs crossed! But is willing to help me out whilst on annual leave.
She said the head is 3/5 and that to just let nature take its course (ie I was 11 days over twice before), so I reckon I will pop by the 10th at the latest!

Welcome Hippopo - it's all getting scarily nearer now isn't it??
Shipsladyq - I havent had any horrible dreams, just a slightly scary non baby dream last night.

That sounds like a lovely midwife, justbeme. I hope that things pan out OK. As you suggest, the precedent is already there.

I'm hoping to drop before next Weds. Went back to FAU to have BP checked again and it was fine (as was wee), but results from last bloods had slightly elevated urates and ALT - which on their own (as they're so only slightly raised) is OK-ish, but still puts me on their Pre-eclampsia radar. So... I've got "parole" until Wednesday morning when they want to repeat tests.

Am trying not to be impatient - but it's so hard.

Enjoy the home visit Hioppopo. It made it all a lot more real and exciting for me. DH seemed to really appreciate it too.

I bet you pop before me Shipsladyq!!!

That would be nice for me Justbeme - but I feel for you especially with your OH going away again so soon.

Anyway - all set here (or at least as much as we are going to be). I built the crib yesterday. DH has made a splendid job on the nursery. House is reasonably tidy. Freezer is stocked. My mother is phoning me daily. Just need little one to put in an appearance. Not even an inkling of that so far today.

Got the "home birth kit" from the hospital the other day. I was expecting some kind of box of treasure - not a black bin bag with a bucket in it and a load more bin bags! Kinda takes the awe and mystique out of it all! Oh the glamour of childbirth...

Ooo ships - sounds like you are all ready! I am all ready too, apart from the birth pool still in the loft. DH arrived home this morning and is going to get it down this afternoon so everything is in place. Freezer is stocked, all clothes / slings / cribs have been washed and prepared... hospital bag (just in case) packed and house is clean! Although now DH is home, not sure how long that will last.

(He's only been back 3 hours and we've already had our first roll about in the hay, so to speak, to try and encourage baba out!)

No signs yet though... although my bits are a bit bruised (from all the blood down there, not the rolling about I don't think).

Welcome Hippo! Add yourself to the list...

Fingers crossed you don't go into labour tomorrow justbeme...

heh-heh. 3hrs! Good work! A total N.O.R.W.I.C.H. experience then!

Hello,

Thanks for all the welcome messages. I will now try to update list and add myself on. Can't believe I am already at week 35 and there seems so much to do still!

Am strangely quite excited about the birth but quite petrified about what to do for the next 18 years!!!!

Looking forward to MW visit - do I need to do anything to prepare apart for a bit of a tidy up and get tea and biscuits in?

Good luck to Justbeme, Shipsladyg, Smurf26 and Boobz look forward to hearing your birth stories in the near future and picking up any tips

xxx

Due

Justbeme, DC#3 due 30 May
Shipsladyg, due June 6th
Smurf26, DC#2 due 8 June, planned home birth
Boobz, DC#2 due June 9, planned home water birth, South London
Unrequitedskink, DC#2, planned home water birth
Wheredidmyfeetgo, DC#3 due 28 June, planned home birth, Wiltshire
Hippopo, DC1 due 9 July, planned home water birth, North London
Heather1980, DC#3 due September, planned home birth

Arrived

Happyfaces, DC#1 arrived 12 January, induction at 39 weeks due to Cholestasis, Cambridgeshire
Motherofsnortpigs, Humphrey Peter David arrived 20 January at home (very quick labour!)
MamaLazarou, DC#1 arrived 20 January, transfer due to transverse lie.
Bellaballoon, DC#1 arrived 24 January at home.
SouthWestWhippet, Francesca arrived 30 January, transfer due to established labour not kicking in
Raindroprhyme, Seth Cooper arrived 1 Feb, transfer due to lack of midwives (nice hospital birth)
Comeonbishbosh, Iris Anna arrived 3 Feb at home
Verylittlecarrot, Boy arrived 6 Feb at home
Heth1980, Girl, arrived 12 Feb in hospital due to pre term arrival
Twofalls, Polly arrived 26 Feb at home
intravenouscoffee, James, arrived 2 March at home
Mad4mainecoons, Holly Eleanor arrived 13 March, lovely home birth, Cornwall
Caitni, Richard Walter arrived 16 March, by C-section
Donttrythisathome, Bay Amaryllis arrived 18 March, transfer due to lack of progression
PrincessTweetz, Jude Allistair Charles arrived 23 March at home, Coventry
Opalfruity, Baby girl arrived on time 28 March, lovely home birth
Bettymum, Alexander arrived 19th April, transfer due to lack of progression but lovely hospital experience none the less, Berkshire
Flybynight, Flora arrived 1 May, lovely home birth, Leeds
rlp, Thomas Henry, arrived 8 May, lovely home birth
Morethemerrier, Girl arrived 17 May, at home. Details needed!

BOUNCE BOUNCE BOUNCE BOUNCE

BOUNCE BOUNCE BOUNCE

BOUNCE BOUNCE BOUNCE BOUNCE BOUNCE BOUNCE...

Any news ships, Justbeme and Smurf??

Nothing happening here - have been bouncing on my ball all weekend and walking the dog very day, but nada. Am 39+5 today, and Penny came at 39+6 (or at least contractions started) so am hoping tomorrow is the day... just want baby out now to make the most of having DH home.

Still here too. 40+1 today. I thought I was niggling all day yesterday, but I think it might just have been constipation Sigh..... And we tried everything at the weekend. I know it's going to happen "sometime" in the next fortnight, I'd just rather it was before they start finding things wrong with me especially as they're keeping an eye on me as it is.

No nothing here - 40 + 8 today. Although I've been feeling queasy this afternoon and can't face my dinner at the moment. Think I may go the whole way to 40 + 11 as I have done twice before!
Good Luck to you though if it happens soon!

right, I'm back to watching this thread again...come on ladies, live birthing updates soon please

Sorry to see you're still with us ladies... I've been feeling niggly since last night too but nothing concrete. And now the weather is shite so we're stuck indoors with a toddler. Joy.

You would think after having done this once already, that I would know what contractions feel like.... think I have had a couple of the dog walk this morning but seems to have all tailed off again. Am seeing MW at 11:30 this morning so maybe she'll be able to tell me?

Tantruming toddler is not what I need this morning! DH gone to buy MIL birthday present and hire a TENS machine.

Will update after MW appt and hopefully will have more interesting news!

come on boobz....get walking the hound again.

Made the mistake last time of trying to hurry things along and knackering myself out - am going to take the early stages easy this time! If this really is the early stage... might all be in my head! We're off to John Lewis this afternoon to put a list together of "essentials" for our move to Sudan, so hopefully that will keep me busy if it's not really all kicking off... can't stand the "is it, isn't it?" bit... just want to get going now!

What are you up to this arvo?

I hope things go to plan Boobz. Good luck at the MW later.

No news here. DH starting to niggle though! tee hee. He wants to go to tennis at Queens tomorrow and a big dinner at Tower 42 next week and so is trying to figure out when it would be best for me to produce.... Like I have any say in the subject. Boys, eh? I'm hoping that his plans will jinx junior into making an exit.

Is this your first Ships?

I'm 39+1 today - had a show yesterday, was so excited, went on massive cleaning frenzy (not sure why, it could have been nesting but probably more to do with potentially having strangers (midwives) in my home. I was convinced something was going to happen last night, so much so that I woke every hour. Nada! So today I am knackered, achy from too much activity yesterday, and just....waiting... think I'll do some baking!

Had the sweep of my life, she could stretch me to 4cm, and could feel the baby's head (am 2/5 palpable) and have a Bishop's score of 6.

So all going in the right direction! She said she would hope the sweep might have tipped things over and things could start in earnest tonight or tomorrow, but I've not had a show yet...

Hmmm. Hate waiting.

Have binned John Lewis - could imagine a big bust up with DH if this really is it!

That sounds hopeful Boobz I hope it does the trick for you. I agree - waiting and the uncertainty is the worst bit. I'll be keeping my eye on the board for an update!

Yup - this is our first, so no chance of a sweep until next week for me. I don't think we're in for any action today. I've got to go back to the FAU tomorrow for them to check BP again and to repeat bloods which are "nothing to worry about"... grrrr... I wish, wish, wish I could make little one appear before then.